Walking just 4,400 steps a day is enough to slash the risk of early death, study says

WALKING just 4,400 steps a day is enough to slash the risk of dying early, a study suggests.

It shows that the idea of having to take 10,000 steps a day is a myth, researchers say.

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And they warn the target deters some people from walking more as they think it will be unachievable.

Researcher Professor I-Min Lee said: “Our study amplifies the message, ‘Step more — even a little more is helpful’.”

The Harvard University team analysed data from 16,741 older women who wore tracking devices for a week. Their health was monitored for an average of more than four years, during which time 504 died.

As few as 4,400 steps a day was linked to a 41 per cent lower risk of dying in that time than taking just 2,700 steps.

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Those who did 8,400 steps a day were 58 per cent less likely to die within four years.

Death rates decreased as the number of steps increased before levelling off at about 7,500 a day.

Professor Lee added: “We hope these findings provide encouragement for individuals for whom 10,000 steps a day may seem unattainable.”

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